A suggestion.
Group Captain J R Jeudwine DSO OBE DFC.
Pre-war regular who served pre-war. Went out to the far east and was caught up in the Japanese invasion. The bit that could demonstrate leadership well was when he escaped from Java in a boat with 11 men and they reached safety 47 days later. Ths was what he got the OBE for.
After that he returned to UK, commanded 619 Sqn and eventually became a master bomber with 5 Group. Died right after the end of the war in a Typhoon crash.
There is a biography available, Global Warrior.
HtH